Prosecutors are asking for a seven-year imprisonment as well as a fine of Dh1 million against an Indian national who allegedly insulted Prophet Mohammad and Islam on his social networking page. 41-year-old SG is believed to have posted a blasphemous status message on his Facebook page in which he criticized the Prophet and his religious views, as they are depicted in the Koran, after watching a morbid video of the war in Iraq in July 2014.
Reportedly, SG failed to show up at Dubai Court of First Instance earlier this month when the presiding judge Ezzat Abdul Lat called out his name. According to court documents, the complaint against SG was filed by fellow Indian salesperson and colleague, SM, after the latter received a picture of the offensive Facebook status message that was apparently being shared on Whatsapp.
The charge sheet says prosecutors believe SG abused a social media network and the country’s telecommunication system to insult the Prophet and Islam. They are now seeking the implementation of the toughest penalty applicable against the defendant on grounds of him having breached the United Arab Emirates’ cybercrime law. The complainant has already testified to prosecutors that he received the image on his phone, when he was at home.
“The image was about a Facebook status in which the Prophet and Islam were cursed. The name of the person who posted the status is SG. I went to the nearest police station and complained thereafter,” he claimed to prosecutors.
According to evidence, SG used his iPhone 5S to publish the status message on his Facebook page. The phone used to post the message was also found to be registered in SG’s name. Apparently, the defendant has also previously admitted to prosecutors that he was responsible for posting the blasphemous status message, after having watched a disturbing news clipping on the war in Iraq.
If found guilty, SG could face up to seven years in prison and/or a fine of up to Dh1 million, according to Article 35 of the Kingdom’s cybercrime law. Lat adjourned the case until SG is legally notified about his upcoming hearing scheduled to take place on April 27.
Photo Credits: Daily Mail
